Monday, 05 December 2022 16:25

Italia Experience in Madrid: Giffoni awarded special prize for "giving centrality to the voices of new generations"

The event is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture – Directorate-General for Cinema and Audiovisuals

“Giffoni has invented a completely original concept of a film festival, conceiving a place where centrality is given to young people, demanding that the world's attention be turned to the voices that are less listened to and recognizing the new generations a fundamental role in society and culture”. The second stage of Italia Experience, the Giffoni project co-financed by the Ministry of Culture Directorate-General for Cinema and Audiovisual, kicked off last night in Madrid with those words. Reading them was Marialuisa Pappalardo, director of the 15th edition of the Madrid Italian Film Festival, organized by the Italian Cultural Institute.

The event was attended by Giffoni general manager Jacopo Gubitosi, head of institutional relations Davide RussoGianvincenzo Nastasi from the artistic management, Erica De Lisio from the video productions department and Rita Esposito from the communications department. The delegation was presented with the Special Award - Giffoni Much More than a Festival.

“Being awarded for the work we carry out is always a great honor”, said Jacopo Gubitosi. “Giffoni has always been an open space, a space of freedom, a place where people can come together and find ways to grow. In Spain we will have the chance to further highlight our values. The Award we will be honored with is the recognition of our journey; it shows that our commitment to young people has been received in all its strength and effectiveness”.

Minister Counselor of the Italian Embassy in Madrid Benedetto Giuntini also wished to extend his congratulations to Giffoni. The opening night was accompanied by the notes of the famous song "Roma nun fa' la stupida stasera" by the great pianist, composer and conductor Armando Trovajoli, interpreted by director Pappalardo. After that, the rich and intense program of the Festival was presented with the participaction of the great actress Assumpta Serna, special juror of the section dedicated to documentary films. Finally, there was an exciting musical performance by Serena Brancale, an outstanding internationally renowned performer of nu-soul/jazz.

Italia Experience activities in Madrid will continue tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 25. Mario Sesti’s documentary LA VOCE DI FANTOZZI will be screened at the Italian Cultural Institute in the presence of producers Daniele Liburdi and Massimo Mescia (Volume Entertainment). LA VOCE DI FANTOZZI revolves around one of the most beloved comic characters of Italian cinema, an icon who has influenced popular imagination, culture and language of an entire country like no other, joining immortal artists such as Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy and Totò. The film features Paolo Villaggio, in his last and moving performance, along with exceptional Italian personalities such as Nobel laureate Dario Fo and Oscar winner Roberto Benigni.

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